Touched by a Holy God

Touched by A Holy God

In Exodus 29, the Lord gives Moses an intricate process of consecrating the priests and their equipment for use in the tabernacle. Verse 33 contains the non-politically correct teaching that no one except for priests can eat of the sacrifices, because these sacrifices are holy.

Now, on the one hand, we might simply accept this injunction and move on. Or we might think this makes sense and equally dismiss it. But this point begins to take on a special meaning for God’s children. You see, down in verse 37, God also states that anyone or anything that inadvertently touches these holy items become holy as well. Again, we might miss what is really being said here.

The key to two these statements, and their profound implications for our lives as Christians, is that whoever touches a holy, consecrated item is sanctified by that item. This means that it is forever enlisted into the use of God. A holy garment touching holy things must always be used only for God. It has been set apart, it is now defined by God, it can no longer be used for common uses. It is now God’s, and is now surrendered to Him to be used only for His desires and purposes.

If a knife was used in the tabernacle, since it was now holy, it could not be used to carve the Thanksgiving Turkey. If a bowl was used in the tabernacle, it could no longer be used for Fruit Loops. If a shirt was used in the tabernacle, it could no longer be worn to a Jets game.

Now let’s fast-forward to the New Testament and turn to 1 Peter chapter 2. Throughout this chapter, Peter argues that we are living stones being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood unto God (1 Peter 2:5). Later in verse 9, Peter states that we are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession.

Peter weaves the teaching from Exodus on holiness into our identity as those who have called upon Christ as our Savior. We are now “living stones” in the holy temple of God. We are holy and thus not to be used for common purposes. We are a holy nation—a separate nation, and thus, we are a people “for God’s own possession.” Just like in the Old Testament when something touched the holy altar of God, we have been touched by the Holy One who laid Himself eternally upon the altar. And since we have been touched by Christ, we have been set apart. Our lives are no longer dedicated to the common purposes of everyday life.

And thus, Peter builds upon these ideas and tells us, therefore “as aliens and strangers abstain from fleshly lusts (vs 11)…keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles (vs 12)…submit yourselves to the Lord (vs 13).” His point is that we have been set apart by God for God’s work. We are no longer ourselves. We’re like that bowl used in the temple—once we’ve touched the holy things of God, we can no longer return to our previous lives. Things are different, things have changed. We are now surrendered to God and are bound in service to Him.

So have you been touched by God? Has His loving hand reached into your life and drawn you to Him? If so, consider yourself consecrated unto Him. Consider yourself placed in His temple. Surrender your entire life to Him. Every part must be holy and dedicated to Him. From now on, this will bring you your greatest joy and fulfillment.

If you have yet to surrender to God, realize that this calling is not toilsome drudgery, but rather the fulfillment of your highest purposes in life. Apart from God, we can do nothing that truly lasts or satisfies. God has designed it to be this way. He created us with a “God shaped” hole in our heart that nothing else can fill. But when we come to Him and surrender to Him, and consecrate ourselves to Him, we find the greatest strength, peace and joy we’ll ever know. Jesus Himself said, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be made full (John 15:11).” Life will still have trials, but when we go through them consecrated to God and His purposes, His grace and joy courses through us even in the midst of them.

How do you surrender to God? Understand that first, you have not been surrendered to Him until now. Confess to Him in prayer that you have lived for yourself and your purposes. Recognize that He is holy and that you cannot stand in His presence because of your sin (Habakkuk 1:13; Isaiah 59:2). Recognize that Jesus is God’s holy sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:23-28). Call out to Him for forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Romans 10:9 tells us that “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” And with this salvation comes a whole new life (1 Corinthians 5:17), a life now dedicated to God and blessed by God. A new adventure living for Him and doing His will.